Decided I'm just gonna pick an album at a time and try to spend quality time with each. With such a vast genre I'm sure it's way too easy to just flit between records without actually taking much in. This week I'm going for Time Out, having been aware of Brubeck through my dad and having heard Take Five a bunch of times. Blue Rondo al a Turk is freaking nuts, I love it.
i was verrrrry into this album a few years ago. it's been awhile since i revisited it. i need to get on that.
Heard this for the first time today: I didn't have overly high expectations for this album because nobody really talks about Ray's jazz stuff but it's legitimately wonderful. The B-side is basically just a great jazz ensemble riffing over the blues and I am here for it.
Finally listened. Really unique combination. And has some really sick moments ("Love Dance" and "Election" in particular are awesome and getting added to my Random Songs playlist). The album as a whole wasn't really my jam (the vocals particularly didn't click with me, outside of "Please Tell Her") but I'm glad I listened.
It's funny. You get so used to what a "jazz combo" looks like that it's kinda awesome to be reminded that music can really come from anywhere. Had a similar realization listening to Crosby, Still and Nash, which I've heard dozens of times, and just realizing how few of those songs have drums.
Heard this for the first time and was very much into it. I'd heard of Golson before, but it was my first time hearing him on anything and I really like his style. So smooth.
What do you folks think of Glenn Miller? I don't see much of the big band stuff talked about in jazz conversations, but always had a soft spot for Miller due to my dad playing a lot of his stuff when I was younger. His christmas albums are my go-to records if I want to feel festive.
I know people tend to use him as a punchline because he was the "pop" music of the day and his band was too rehearsed/pristine, but what I've heard from him is pretty consistently tremendously arranged. Like, he put together an arrangement of "The Volga Boatman" that swings, so I think he's pretty damn good.
Yeah I had a feeling he was seen a bit corny in some circles, but to my noob ears they're great compositions.
I've been watching Jazz again and it's a whole different watch given the artists I know better and have listened to more (Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Duke Ellington). I feel like I'm going to rewatch this minseries like every 5 years.